It came after Pakistan announced the launch of "Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” or “Iron Wall,” firing Al-Fatah missiles against India in retaliation for New Delhi's "Operation Sindoor," inside Pakistan on May 6, which killed 33 victims and injured 62, according to the Pakistan army.

The conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir offers a potentially rich intelligence harvest for China in its own rivalry with India as it gleans data from its fighter jets and other weapons used in action by Pakistan.

In recent years, India has grown closer to the United States and Pakistan to China, putting the two traditional south Asian foes at the heart of global superpower competition, writes Yvonne Murray.